He used to be a Democrat and ran to be a delegate to elect...photo-14785414.186505 - |ucfirst

He spent $500,000 of his own money on a 2000 congressional race in which he garnered only about 6,300 votes, finishing fifth.

He spent $500,000 of his own money on a 2000 congressional race in which he garnered only about 6,300 votes, finishing fifth.

Photo: Simon Potter/Getty Images/Cultura RF

He spent $500,000 of his own money on a 2000 congressional race in...photo-16300282.186505 - |ucfirst

Unlike some prominent California Democrats, including Dianne Feinstein for much of her career, he opposes capital punishment, citing his Catholic faith and the high cost of administering the death penalty.

Unlike some prominent California Democrats, including Dianne Feinstein for much of her career, he opposes capital punishment, citing his Catholic faith and the high cost of administering the death penalty.

Friends say he was bullied in school for being small and looking young. “He was tiny and he looked very young,” recalled Steve Bithos, a tennis teammate and friend of Cox.

Friends say he was bullied in school for being small and looking young. “He was tiny and he looked very young,” recalled Steve Bithos, a tennis teammate and friend of Cox.

Photo: Hal Bergman Photography/Getty Images

Friends say he was bullied in school for being small and looking...photo-10692640.186505 - |ucfirst

He spent $1 million to gather signatures for a ballot initiative called "California is not for sale," which would have required legislators to wear the logos of their top 10 donors like NASCAR racers wear their sponsors. It collected about 250,000 signatures but was about 100,000 short of making it onto the ballot.

He spent $1 million to gather signatures for a ballot initiative called "California is not for sale," which would have required legislators to wear the logos of their top 10 donors like NASCAR racers wear their

He was sued for financial mismanagement by the family whose powerful potato chip company he managed, but settled for $1.7 million in 1999. The founder of the company, Jays Foods, is widely considered the man behind the modern corn oil-fried potato chip, according to the Chicago Tribune.

He was sued for financial mismanagement by the family whose powerful potato chip company he managed, but settled for $1.7 million in 1999. The founder of the company, Jays Foods, is widely considered the man

He caught flak for telling a story involving lines at the DMV and the Holocaust. “You know, I met a Holocaust survivor in Long Beach. He survived concentration camps, and he said this [the DMV] was worse. He’s 90 years old and he had to wait four hours down in Long Beach. Can you imagine that?” Cox said. less

He caught flak for telling a story involving lines at the DMV and the Holocaust. “You know, I met a Holocaust survivor in Long Beach. He survived concentration camps, and he said this [the DMV] was worse. ... more

He has said he is pro-life partially because he believes his mother would have had an abortion had it been an option at the time. "My mother told me that she would have had an abortion had it been legal," he said in 2003. less

He has said he is pro-life partially because he believes his mother would have had an abortion had it been an option at the time. "My mother told me that she would have had an abortion had it been legal," he ... more

Photo: John Fedele/Getty Images/Blend Images

He has said he is pro-life partially because he believes his mother...photo-12707315.186505 - |ucfirst

He wants to quadruple the renter's tax credit and reform the California Environmental Quality Act to make it easier to build housing.

He wants to quadruple the renter's tax credit and reform the California Environmental Quality Act to make it easier to build housing.

Photo: Joe Sohm/Visions Of America/UIG Via Getty Images

He wants to quadruple the renter's tax credit and reform...photo-16146212.186505 - |ucfirst